Platt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Platt name lie with England’s ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived by a small patch of land. Platt is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Platt family

The surname Platt was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Platt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Platt research.

Platt Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Platt were recorded, including Platt, Plat, Platte, Plait, Plate, Blatt and others.

Early Notables of the Platt family (pre 1700)

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Hugh Plat or Platt (1552-1608), English writer on agriculture and inventor from Garlickhythe; and John Platt (1632-1705), an English immigrant to America from Ware, Hertfordshire to settle in Norwalk, Connecticut and rose to become a Member of the General Court of the Colony of Connecticut from Norwalk (1678-1694.) Gabriel Plattes (fl. 1638), was an English writer, said to have been of Dutch extraction, was one of the earliest advocates.

Platt Ranking

In the United States, the name Platt is the 1,504^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. [1] However, in the United Kingdom, the name Platt is ranked the 647^th most popular surname with an estimated 10,084 people with that name. [2]

 Migration of the Platt family to Ireland

Some of the Platt family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Platt migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the “open frontiers” of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Platt family emigrate to North America: 

Platt Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Gilbert Platt, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [3]
• Lawrence Platt, aged 15, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship “Thomas & John” [3]
• Richard Platt, who landed in New Haven, Connecticut in 1638 [3]
• Law Platt, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [3]
• Henry Platt, who landed in Virginia in 1664 [3]

Platt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Peter Platt, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [3]
• Samuel Platt, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [3]
• Randolph Platt, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 [3]
• Henrich Platt, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1744 [3]

Platt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Robert Platt, who arrived in America in 1803 [3]
• John Platt, aged 38, who landed in Maryland in 1812 [3]
• Matthias Platt, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1853 [3]
• George H Platt, who arrived in Illinois in 1856-1864 [3]
• Alfred, Euclid, Francis, George, Henry, James, John, Joseph, Robert, Samuel, Thomas, and William Platt, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1865

 Platt migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Platt Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. John Platt U.E. who settled in Montreal, Quebec c. 1786 member of the Secret Service [4]

Platt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Isabella Platt, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Perseus” in 1834
• Alex Platt, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

 Platt migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Platt Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. James Platt, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[5]

Platt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Charlotte Platt, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Earl of Liverpool” in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [6]
• Mr. James Platt who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “England”on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’sLand) [7]
• Mr. Joseph Platt who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “England”on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’sLand) [7]
• Mr. Joseph Platt, English convict who was convicted in Knutsford, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Barossa” on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [8]
• Mr. William Platt, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the “Emerald Isle” on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) [9]

 Platt migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Platt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Edmund Platt, aged 26, a plasterer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Waimea” in 1876
• Eliza Platt, aged 24, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Waimea” in 1876
• Walter Platt, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Waimea” in 1876
• Alice Platt, aged 6 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Waimea” in 1876
• Mr. Frederick E. Platt, (b. 1852), aged 26, English farm labourer from Derbyshire departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship “Hydaspes” arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Platt (post 1700) +

• Thomas Collier Platt Jr. (1925-2017), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2001-2017)
• Charles Platt (b. 1945), American author, journalist, and computer programmer
• Campion Platt (b. 1959), American architect
• Charles Adams Platt (1861-1933), prominent American artist, landscape gardener, landscape designer, and architect
• Edward Platt (1916-1974), American character actor, best remembered for his role as the Chief in the television series “Get Smart”
• Marc Platt (b. 1913), American ballet dancer and musical theatre performer
• Lewis Platt (1941-2005), American CEO for Hewlett-Packard
• Joseph Beaven Platt (b. 1915), American physicist, educator and administrator, who was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
• Benjamin Platt, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Westchester County 6th District, 1954; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1960 [10]
• Benjamin Platt, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Prospect, 1829, 1838 [10]